UNKNOWN TONGUES. 253 



Bedouin draws his reed-pipe from the folds of his turban, 

 and, sharp and shrill, its notes are heard far into the sol- 

 itude; while the camel raises its ungainly head, and, with 

 enlivened step and rapid motion, moves forward through 

 the desert. 



Birds alone, and especially singing birds, have a gen- 

 uine ear for music. As the eye may see, and yet not 

 be able to distinguish colors, so the ear of most animals 

 hears, but cannot discern the depth and volume of tone. 

 But birds are the true musicians of the animal kingdom. 

 They have, what many men lack, a genuine talent to learn 

 and appreciate musical notes and melodies. You sing, 

 and they will repeat, bar after bar ; others listen with 

 eager attention to a hand-organ, and, little by little, learn 

 whole tunes ; the ablest of all even imitate the songs and 

 voices of others. 



Not all animals, however, that have an ear, can speak. 

 Language, even in its humblest form, is a gift vouchsafed 

 to the few and the privileged. Still, animals are dumb 

 only in a general way ; they all have, at least, a language 

 of instinct. By this they can make themselves under- 

 stood by their own race and by their enemies. Even 

 the lowest among them, that have not a trace of lungs, 

 must have some gesture to convey their friendly or hos- 

 tile meaning. Poor as it is, no doubt, and entirely as it 

 escapes our eye, this language suffices. Animals endowed 

 with horns, teeth, feet, or antennae, speak by these means; 

 how eloquent is the dog when he shows his teeth, and 

 how sure of being understood the ox, when he lowers his 

 formidable horns. 



